Wow, time got away from me!

I didn't realize I haven't done a post since April 23!!!

Not so sure much of anything' interesting' has happened since but I'll try and get a post done here or you all will forget I'm here!!!

After we finished the bathroom remodel it felt like we were searching for things to do - we loved being busy, strange right? But we both love projects.

Two weeks ago a friend from NC came here for 4 days and just as soon as he left we were out of the house an hour later on our way to Pennsylvania.
We decided that we are having another IN-HOME SHOW in October and then hopefully one again in November, like we did back in 2006-07-08 and 09.

We shopped at the wholesale places looking for HAND-MADE items to go along with things that we will make and we did find a few things.
Monday is the wholesale cash & carry show and hopefully we will find a few more hand-made's to add to what we have.
We want mostly our items though so shopping is very selective.

We stayed at the Clarion Strasburg Inn in Strasburg, PA and enjoyed it so much there - our room overlooked the parking lot but also just  beyond that was beautiful countryside.

So lovely this time of year. 

The food at the Fireside Tavern was exceptional!!

One reason we went when we did was because we had always wanted to go to a Mud Sale and there was one that very next day after we got there at the firehouse in Kinzer's, PA - just a few miles east of Lancaster.

We really didn't know how one operated and were surprised that so many auctions went on at the same time from tools to antiques to quilts to flowers and soooo much more.

We did get a case (12) of Kraft Marshmallow Fluff at .25 per jar LOL
But that's good - I use a lot at Christmas making fudge.

We did get permission for some pictures so please don't think we don't know proper etiquette with the Amish.

We took most of these photos early on like when it first started - it got quite packed by noon.

Crafts and quilts were in this building 

The flowers were gorgeous and went for so little...made me sad we couldn't get some to bring back home.

These here are the small ones. There were huge pots with several types of flowers in them going for $35!

We met up again with Lisa and Jerry Thrush - friends from Lancaster and Mattie and Lydia the two Amish sisters we met when we were there in Feb.

We went back to the sister's house after eating and had another wonderful visit.
I guess we can now say we have some wonderful Amish friends.

One thing for sure in Lancaster is we never hurt for food...

no matter where we went the portions were huge and delicious!

Our favorite place to eat is the Rt. 30 Diner

but you must go in hungry because the portions

are huge and home made.

This chopped steak was over a pound!!

I had the Patty Melt...

This was the only food photo from the Inn - Nacho's!!!

And I didn't even get 1/4 of it eaten - I wasn't feeling all that well and nothing sounded good but they were very good.

We did get a new supply of gourds while we were out there for our gourd garlands.

We are making them earlier this season because we are having the In-Home show and need to have them made ahead.

Our sweet little great-grandson Zayne's 5th birthday was last Saturday and tomorrow is our grandson Aidan's 10th birthday - a busy birthday month here at the Martinsen's.

Check out my selling site to see the finished items I posted for sale.

http://kmprimitives.blogspot.com/

Thanks for visiting!

Karen

Preparing for a show!

Good morning this last day of June!

I wish I could say summer was here but again the weather just doesn't cooperate - 

hot then cold and 'repeat'.  

Summer decorating here has been sparse - didn't put out as many geraniums this year as 

I usually do. I lost my mojo for some reason but that's not a bad thing...

less to take to the basement in the Fall.

We didn't do much for outside potted plants either and the few we did buy are getting pelted with downpours - I like rain for the flowers but it really beats them down.

I may change out some of my 'placement'of geraniums each Spring/Summer season but this one will always be in our long wood trencher on the dining room table - 

it is my favorite grouping.

Normally I would put real geraniums on this bench along with the birdhouses but couldn't find a potted one that looked nice - may have to assemble one myself.

I love this arrangement of flowers that we bought at the Mukwonago flea market a few weeks back.  When the sun is out it is gorgeous but the rain pushes it right down!!

Last week a very dear friend and I had a wonderful lunch and visit in our screen room -

I love this lady with all my heart.  We worked together for 20+ years and she's part of our 'former' co-workers  'luncheon' but this time I wanted it to be a

one on one with her and so did she.

She lost her 16 year old grandson on Memorial weekend in a horrible car crash that claimed his life and 2 of his friends.  The car hit a tree and exploded and they literally burned to beyond recognition.  Her heart is so broken and she needed to talk, so we did.

This community was so awesome - it pulled together for these 3 families - the high school held the visitation and funerals and the local food market donated the meals.....you have no idea what this community did for these families...it was beyond amazing.

I love you sweet Darlene Lemmon!!

Last month we went to the huge flea market near us and for some reason I was taken in by this beautiful pine box....it is actually a fruit crate

and I loved the patina on it and will use it at the show we are doing

in September as a display prop....isn't it great!!

For now I have it sitting in the dining room next to a cupboard and I'm putting my 'finished' penny rugs and other smalls in it for safe keeping for the show.

It does have one crazy screw in the handle that Doug will most likely take out and try and replace with something not so ugly....but I still love it anyway even if he doesn't get it fixed.

And this past Sunday we went to the same flea market and FINALLY bought a weather vane for our now, 10 year old screen room cupola - it's a weathered copper...

isn't she a beauty and just in time for the 4th...she flies high!!!

It was worth the wait.

All of this month I have been making canvas board prints for the September show.

These are two of them that we tried over our fireplace...a tad small for the space (16" x 20") so I am in the process of making two larger ones with an older looking couple (20" x 30").

So far I have made 14 different people.

Here are some of the ones that I have finished

These are the two I am making for us for over the fireplace as a 20 x 30 -

plus there is a pair in the 16 x 20 size for the show.

Even though their backgrounds aren't the same I still like them together.

Last week we celebrated our grandson Aidan's 9th birthday and tomorrow we will be celebrating our granddaughter  (his sister) Miranda's 4th birthday.

(Darren and MaryAnn's children) 

Here's the show we will be vending at.
I will post updates every now and then and when it gets closer
I'll hopefully have a list of vendors.

I can't think of anything else to chat about today so I'll say good bye for now and hope you all have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!!!

Playing Catch-Up

I so wanted to do a post a week like I used to do but that hasn't happened yet - but getting close.

This was a very busy last couple weeks.
We did much needed screen room, deck and brick cleaning.
Doug power washed both and then stained the decking and sealed the brick.  I love the shine it has with the fresh sealer on it....and when it's wet it's even prettier. 

Plus I washed all the screens of the screen room, inside and out I always have the job of washing all the furniture so my arms were sore by the end of the day but it was a great job done and it smelled so fresh and clean. And a very relaxing place to be in.

I  did bring out some of my geraniums last week - just a few because I didn't feel like bending over the totes and carrying the others upstairs. It's still very tiring for me to do stairs especially if my hands are full.

I found some flower pots packed away and stuffed them in a basket and love how it turned out.

There's 3 Lavender and 3 of some kind of mixed white flower.

Quite awhile ago we bought two battery operated candles for the hallway and just now put them out - they are a dark muddy gold beeswax and the flicker on them is so real and it flickers on the ceiling as well.

Sunday we went to Emily's graduation.  We were so happy and proud. She was an excellent student and had high achievements and she'll do great when she goes to University of Wisconsin Whitewater in the Fall.  We'll miss seeing her at our once a month family dinners though!!

Our grandson Joe was in woodworking/shop class and we didn't even know it - he's a very quiet boy and doesn't like to be made over or have his picture taken - but I did convince him to at least stand for one photo.
he made two tables and a cutting board - he did fantastic work.
He was also in track the past two years and he really liked the 'relay' part of it.

So that's what has kept us busy and now it's just Emily's graduation party on the 11th and my great-nieces graduation party this Saturday.

Doug is going on his annual golf outing in a little over a week from now so I'm trying to think of some things I want to do while he's gone - lots of ideas, just need to get them planned out.

That's it for me this week
Karen